Labeling machine



LABELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1940 3 7 INVENTIO l GEO/P65 l V. vo/vOFE V. ,4-rT0 /VEY Patented June 23, 1942 LABELING MACHINE George W. vanHofe, Bound Brook, N. 1., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation,Hoboken, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 21,1940, Serial No. 371,147

12 Claims.

The invention relates to labeling machines and has for its object toprovide a machine of simple construction whereby a plurality of labelsmay be concurrently applied in an efficient manner to a plurality ofarticles for which said labels are designed or in different positionsupon a given article. The invention further contemplates the provisionof a novel supporting means for supporting the articles at the label appstation of the machine in a manner to insure eflicient application ofthe labels to said articles at all times. Other objects will appear fromthe description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates examples of the inventionwithout defining its limits, Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional elevationof a labeling machine embodying the nove1 features; Fig. 2 is a detailview on an enlarged scale of the article supporting means and associatedelements, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of another form of said articlesupporting means.

As shown in the drawing the labeling machine comprises a suitable frameIII on which the operating instrumentalities are conveniently mounted.The latter include means whereby a predetermined number or plurality oflabels are concurrently transferred from suitable sources of supply atthe label pick-up station of the machine to the label applying stationthereof for concurrent application to the articles supported I in labelreceiving positions at the latter station.

For purpose of disclosure and. description the illustrated machine isshown in a form arranged to concurrently transfer and apply two labelsto two separate articles.

In its illustrated form the label transfer and applying means consistsof a carriage Ii slidably mounted on a horizontal guide rail l2 suitablyilxed in place on the frame Ill. The carriage II is reciprocated on saidrail l2 between the pick-up and label applying stations of the machineby suitable mechanism exemplified by the arm II on the rock shaft IIwhich is Journailed on the frame III in any conventional manner. The armI2 is connected with the carriage II for instance by means of ayieldingly mounted rod l5, and the shaft It is rockedon its axis inproper timing by conventional means exemplifled by the verticallymovable rack It. The transfer and applying means in the illustratedmachine further comprises suction controlled means including a pluralityof suction heads corresponding in number to the number of labels whichare to be concurrently applied to the articles for which said labels areintended; The selected example of the novel machine shows two suctionheads l1 and I! carried in spaced relation by and depending from asuction plate It connected with a source of suction in any convenientmanner as by means of a flexible tube 22. Provision is made in anywell-known way for controlling the suction in the heads l1 and II andplate I! in proper timing in an operative cycle of the machine.

The suction plate is as shown in Fig. 2 is mounted in a yoke or the like2i preferably so as to be readily removable therefrom to permitreplacement and substitution of plates is with varying arrangements ofsuction heads. The yoke or the like 2| forms part of or is carried by amember 22 slidably mounted on the carriage II for vertical reciprocationthereon as will appear more fully hereinafter. The member 22 is providedwith a roller 22 arranged to traverse a second fixed rail 24 suitablymounted on the frame iii and having recesses 25 and 26 spaced apart toenable said member 22 with the suction plate is and suction heads l1 andIt to move downwardly relatively to the carriage H at the pick-upstation and label applying station respectively for the purpose to bemore fully de-- scribed hereinafter.

In the travel of the carriage ii from the pickup station to the labelapplying station, that is from right to left in Fig. 1, the roller 23 incooperation with the second rail 24 maintains the member 22 at anelevation on the carriage II in which the labels held by suction on thesuction heads ll and I8 pass in adhesive receiving relation to anadhesive applying means and each receive a surface coating of adhesivetherefrom. In its illustrated form the adhesive applying means consistsof an adhesive applying roller 21 in rolling engagement with an adhesivetransferring roller 28, said rollers 21 and 28 being rotatably supportedin the machine and operated in any convenient manner. The roller 28 dipsinto a supply of adhesive in a container 29 suitably supported on theframe III as shown in Fig, 1 and transfers adhesive therefrom to theapplying roller 21 in the well-known way. Stripping fingers 20 may bemounted in proper co-operative relation to the applying roller 21 toprevent the labels from being carried around the circumferential surfacethereof as the coating with adhesive proceeds. During the returnmovement of the carriage ii and its associated elements from left toright in Fig. 1 or in 0 er words back to the pick-up station, the mem r22 occupies an elevated position on said carriage II in which thesuction heads I! and I! pass above the adhesive applying roller 21without engaging the same, so as to prevent said suction heads l1 and IIfrom becoming coated and soiled with adhesive. Any well-known means maybe incorporated in the machine for effecting-these results, and anyconventional mechanism may be utilized for reciprocating the member 22with the suction heads I! and I! at the pick-up and label applyingstations.

To complete the application of the labels to the articles, the machineis provided with pressing means operated to press the labels into finaladhesive contact with said articles subsequent to the initialapplication by the suction heads l1 and it. As shown the pressing meansincludes a pressure device 3| carried by a plunger 32 verticallyreciprocable' on the frame I in properly timed operative sequence, forinstance by means of a lever 33 fulcrummed on the shaft 14 and operatedby any conventional mechanism.-

In addition to the parts so far described, the machine includessupporting means for supporting the articles in label receiving positionat the label applying station, said supporting means being constructedin a novel manner to co-operate with the suction heads I1 and It ortheir equivalent and the pressure device 3| respectively inautomatically setting said articles in the most efficient labelreceiving and pressing positions.

The supporting means is suitably mounted upon the frame ll forinstanceby means of a bracket 34 or the like preferably so as to be removable atwill for purposes of replacement and substitution. In the form shown inFig. 2

the supporting means comprises a standard or pivot member 35 projectingupwardly from a base 36 which rests upon the bracket 34 and is removablyfastened thereto by screws or the like 31. A holding member or plate 38is pivotally connected at 39 with said standard 35 and extendstransversely thereto as illustrated in Fig. 2. The holding member orplate 38 is provided with a plurality of seats and in the illustratedexample includes two seats-40 and H of predetermined dimensions and formdesigned to receive articles 42 and 43 respectively and to hold orsupport said articles in label receiving position. The articles 42 and43 shown in the drawing are intended to exemplify bottles or othercylindrical articles, it being understood that articles of other typesand shapes may be accommodated in said seats 4. and 4| and maintainedthereby in proper label receiving positions with equal efliciency; insome instances the de sign of the seats and 4| may be varied in shapeand size in accordance with the type of articles 42 and 43 which are tobe accommodated thereby. In any case the supporting means is mounted inthe machine and the seats 4| and 4| are located thereon so as toproperly co-operate with the 'suction heads l1 and II or.

their equivalent the application by the latter, of the labels to hearticles 42 and 43 in the respective seats; In the specific arrangementillustrated in Fig. 2 the seat 40 is arranged at an F intermediate pointof said holding member or plate 38 and in the assembled condition ofthesupporting means lies above and in registry with said member or plate38 and with an eyelet 48 on the base 36 and normally maintains saidmember .or plate 38 in contact with an adjustable stop shown in the formof a stop screw 41 mounted in threaded engagement with-a lug 48projecting outwardly from one side of said standard or pivot member I!as shown in Fig. 2; a lock nut 48 may be provided for fixing the screw41 in an adjusted position. A second lug 50 projects from the oppositeside of said standard or pivot member 35 and carries a second adjustablestop in the form of a stop screw 5| in threaded engagement with said lug50 and extending upwardly therefrom in registry with the holding memberor plate 38 and preferably in substantial alignment with the seat 4|thereof; the second stop screw 5|, the purpose of which will appear morefully from the description hereinafter, may also be fixed in an adjustedposition by means of a lock nut 52.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the supporting means likewise comprises astandard or pivot member 35 projecting upwardly from a base 36 whichsimilarly rests upon the bracket 34 and is removably secured thereto byscrews or the like 31. A holding member or plate 38' is pivotallyconnected at 39" with said standard 35* and extends transversely theretoin an approximately horizontal direction and preferably in substantiallysymmetrical relation to said standard Ii as illustrated in Fig. 3. Theholding member 38' also is provided with a plurality of seats and in theillustrated example, as in the first form, includes two seats 40 and 4|of predetermined dimensions and form to receive articles 42 and 43respectively and to hold or support said articles in label receivingposition. As in the form first described the articles 42*, 43" shown inFig. 3 are intended to exemplify bottles and other cylindrical articles.It will be understood that in the form under discussion that articles ofother types and shapes may be accommodated in said seats 40 and 4| andmaintained thereby in proper label receiving position, and that theseats may be varied in shape and size in accordance with the type ofarticles 42* and 43 which are to be accommodated thereby. In this casethe supporting means is also mounted in the machine and the seats 40-and 4|? are also located thereon so as to properly co-operate withsuction heads Il and I! of equivalent label carrying devices in theapplication of the labels to the articles 42* and 43' in the seats 4.and 4|. It will be noted that the latter are located on the holdingmember 38* at points substantially equidistant from the pivot 39 uponopposite sides thereof, and that the suction heads I1 and II arecorrespondingly spaced apart and located upon the suction plate l9. Thisplate l8 corresponds to the suction plate I! and likewise is mounted inthe yoke 2| preferably so as toberemovable therefrom at will. Relativelylight springs 44 and 44 are connected at 45 and 45 respectively withopposite ends of the holding .member or plate 38' and at 46' and 4l'respectively with the base 38''; theisprings 44* and 44 serve tonormally maintain the holding member 38" in a horizontal balancedposition on the standard 35' as illustrated in Fig. 3. The supportingmeans nowbeing described includes two adjustable stops shown in the formof stop screws 41" and II in threaded engagement with lugs 48 and 5.-respectively, said lugs projecting outwardly from the standard 35' inopposite assure project upwardly from the respective lugs 48' and II inregistry with predetermined parts of the holding member or plate 38 andthat said .stop screws may be fixed in adjusted positions respectivelyby lock nuts 43' and 82.

In practice during an operative of the illustrated machine the rockshaft I4 is rocked on its axis by suitable mechanism to correspondinglyactuate the arm I3. The operation of the latter reciprocates thecarriage II lengthwise of the stationary rail I2 to carry the labelconveying and applying means as exemplified by the suction heads I1 andI8 and the suction plate I8 with their associated parts. between thelabel pick-up station and the label applying station of the machine. Atthe label pick-up station the roller 23 of the member 22' is in registrywith the recess 25 of the second fixed rail 24 and the member 22 mayaccordingly be moved downwardly to bring the suction heads I1 and I8into engagement with the label supply in which the labels are suitablyarranged as for instance in the form of stacks and in such position isto be properly contacted by said suction heads I1 and I8 as the aboveoperations take place. At the proper moment suction is developed in thesuction heads I1 and I8 for instance through the tube 20 and draws thetwo terminal labels from said supply into surface contact with the lowerfaces of the suction heads I1 and I8 respectively; in other words, twoterminal labels are'simultaneously picked'up by said suction heads l1and I8. when this has occurred the member 22 is elevated on the carriageII and the latter is shifted on the rail I2 to the left in Fig. 1, theroller 23 meanwhile traversing the second rail 24 to maintain saidmember 22 at the aforesaid elevation. The latteris such that the suctionheads I1 and I8 with the previously picked up labels held on thesurfaces thereof are caused to pass in adhesive receiving relation tothe adhesive applying roller 21 whereby the latter imparts a coating ofadhesive to the exposed surfaces of each of said labels. The continuingtravel of the carriage II on the roller I2 to the left in Fig. 1 carriesthe adhesive coated labels to the applying station on which the roller23 of the member 22 is in registry with the recess 26 of the second rail24. At this point the member 22 is moved downwardly on the carriage IIto correspondingly move the suction heads I1 and I8 downwardly and causethe adhesive coated labels carried thereby to be deposited concurrentlyupon the articles carried in label receiving. position by either of thearticle supporting means shown in the drawing. In proper synchronismwith the operative cycle of the machine suction is discontinued in thesuction heads I1 and I8 which are then raised by an upward movement ofthe member 22 whereby the labels previously carried by said suction hads I1 and I8 remain in adhesive connectio with the articles on thesupporting means. At this stage the elevation of the member 22 on thecarriage II is such that the suction heads l1 and I8 during the returnmovement of the parts to the label pick-up station pass above and out ofadhesive receiving relation to the adhesive applying roller 21.Subsequently to the initial application of the labels to the articles bythe suction heads I1 and I8 and in proper timing with the returnmovement of the carriage II and its associated parts, the

lever 33 is pivotally actuated to move the plunger 32 downwardly andthereby bring the pressure device 3| into action to concurrently presssaid labels upon said articles whereupon the labeled articles may beremoved from the machine in any conventional manner.

Referring to the article supporting means of Fig. 2 it will be notedthat normally the holding member or plate 38 occupies a slightlyinclined position in which the article 43 is at a somewhat higher levelthan the article 42. with this arrangement as the suction heads I1 andI8 are moved downwardly in the manner previously described the suctionhead I8 with its label will come into contact with the article 43 first,and as the downward movement of the suction head continues will developa downward pressure on said article 43 which will swing the holdingmember or plate 38 on its pivot 38 against the tension of the spring 44and thereby permit the suction head II with its label to properlycontact the article 42 on said holding member'or plate 38. The same istrue in the operation of the pressure device 3I which first contacts thepreviously applied label on the article 43 and subsequently contacts thelabel previously applied to the article 42. In each instance as theholding member or plate 38 is pivotally actuated in the manner describedthe stop screw BI or its equivalent, in co-operation with the member orplate 38, will serve to resist the operative efiect of the pressuredevice to enable the latter to efilciently complete the application ofthe label particularly to the article 43. As the suction heads I! and I8and the pressure device 3I are raised in the manner previously set forththe spring 44 will restore the holding memberv or plate 38 to itsinitial inclined position in contact with the stop screw 41, asillustrated in Fig. 2. With this arrangement of supporting meansarticles of different transverse dimensions may be concurrently andefliciently applied simply by placing the larger article in the seat 4|of the holding member or plate 38 as exemplified by the article 43 inFig. 2. As this larger article 43 is engaged by the suction head I8 itwill be depressed thereby to enable the suction head II with its labelto contact the smaller article such as 42 in the operation of applyingthe label thereto.

' In the case of the supporting means shown in Fig. 3 and assuming thatthe articles to be labeled are identical with each other in form anddimensions, the suction heads H and I8 will bring their labelsconcurrently into adhesive contact with said articles 42 and 43, and thepressure device 3i likewise will concurrently engage both articles 42and I3 to concurrently complete the application of the labels thereto.If either one of the articles 42 or 43 is of larger dimensions than theother, the larger one of the two articles will be first engaged by theco-opcrating suction head and the holding member or plate 38 will bepivotally actuated or rocked against the tension of one of the springs44 or I4 to enable the other suction head to contact the other articleso that even in such case both labels will be concurrently applied tosaid articles. The subsequent operation of the pressure device 3| willcorrespondingly rock'the holding member or plate 38 to therebyconcurrently complete the adhesive application of both labels to botharticles 42 and 43.

plurality of labels to a plurality of articles. In stead of applying aplurality of articles concurrently to different articles the articlesupporting means may be arranged to support a given article in positionto concurrently receive a plurality of labels at different predeterminedpoints of its surface. If the different parts of such artiale to whichthe different labels are to be applied are not located in the same labelreceiving plane, the holding member or plate 38 or 38 will be rocked bythe action of the suction heads or their equivalent to automaticallyposition said diilerent parts of said given article in proper labelreceiving position. The pressure device ll will correspondingly adjustthe article by the rocking of the holding member or plate 3| or Il in amanner to compensate for their inequalities of the article being labeledor differences in the position of the label receiving parts thereof.

In all forms the article supporting means in cooperation with the labelapplying means automatically sets the plurality of articles or diflerentparts of given articles in proper label receiving position. It will beunderstood that the article supporting means may be constructed in otherways than shown to secure the same results.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction withpreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand. Such variations and modifications, are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the claims.

1. In a labeling machine, the combination of movable supporting meansfor articles to be labelled, and applying means for eflecting thesimultaneous application of a plurality of labels to said articles andin co-operation with the latterror adjusting said movable supportingmeans to automatically set said articles in the most efllcient labelreceiving position.

2. In a labeling machine, the combination of movable supporting meansfor simultaneously supporting a plurality of articles in label receivingpositions, and applying means for simultaneously applying labels to saidplurality of articles, and in co-operation with-the latter'for adjustingsaid movable supporting means to automatically set said articlesindividually in the most efllclent label receiving positions.

3. In a labeling machine, the combination of supporting means forsimultaneously supporting a plurality of articles in label receivingpositions, at least one of said articles being rigidly supported andanother of said articlesbelng yieldingly supported, and applying meansforeifecting the application of labels to said plurality of articlessimultaneously and for acting on said yieldingly supported article toadjust said supporting means to automatically set said last namedarticle in proper label receiving position relatively to said rigidlysupported article.

4. In a labeling machine, the combination of a rocking member forsimultaneously supporting a plurality of articles to be labeled, and aplurality of co-acting label applying devices each efiective to apply alabel to one 01 said articles, said co-acting applying devices inco-operation with said articles adjusting said rocking member toautomatically set said articles individually in proper relative labelreceiving positions.

5. In a labeling machine. the combination of a rocking member providedwith a plurality of relatively fixed seats each adapted to accommodatean article to be labeled, a spring eflfective on said rocking member toyleldingly maintain it in normal position, and a plurality of co-actinglabel applying devices each effective to apply a label to one of saidarticles, said rocking member and its spring in co-operation with saidco-acting applying devices acting on said articles automatically settingthe latter in proper relative label receiving positions.

6. In a labeling machine, the combination of a stationary standard, aholding member pivotally connected at an intermediate point with saidstandard and provided with a plurality of article receiving seats atleast one of which is in registry with said pivot and another in of!-set relation thereto, applying means co-operating with said holdingmember for effecting the ap-' plication of labels simultaneously toarticles in said seats, pressure means for completing the application ofsaid labels by pressure, and an adjustable stop co-operating with saidholding member in registry with said oif-set seat to resist the pressureof said pressure means.

7. In a labeling machine, the combination of a stationary standard, arocking member pivotally mounted on said standard and provided with aplurality of seats for accommodating articles to be labeled, a springconnected with said rocking member, a stop for arresting pivotalmovement of said rocking member, and a plurality of coacting label appying devices for applying labels simultaneously to the articles in therespective seats.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination of a stationary standard, arocking member pivotally mounted on said standard and provided with aplurality of seats for accommodating articles to be labeled, a springconnected with said rocking member, a stop for arresting pivotalmovementof said rocking member under themfluence of said spring, aplurality of co-acting label applying devices for applying labelssimultaneously to the articles in the respective seats, I

pressure means for completing the application of said labels bypressure, and a second stop cooperating with said rocking member toresist the pressure of said pressure means.

9. In a labeling machine, the combination of a stationary standard, arocking member pivotally connected at an intermediate point with saidstandard and provided with a pair of seats located upon opposite sidesof said pivotal connection for receiving articles to be labeled, springsconnected with opposite ends of said rocking member for normallymaintaining the same in balance. and a plurality of co-acting labelapplying devices for applying labels simultaneously to the articles inthe respective seats.

10. In a labeling machine, the combination of a stationary standard, arocking member pivotally connected at an intermediate point with saidstandard and provided with a pair of seats located upon opposite sidesof said pivotal connection in approximate symmetrical relation theretofor receiving articles to be labeled, springs connected with theopposite ends of said rocking member for normally maintaining the samein balance, a plurality of co-acting label applying devices for applyinglabels simultaneously to the articles in the respective seats, saidrocking member and its springs in co-operation with said co-acting labelapplying devices autothe-rocking movements of said rocking member.

' 11. In a labeling machine, the combination of. a stationary standard,a holdingmember pivotv allyconnectedat an intermediate point with saidstandard and'provided' with a plurality 0'!- article receivingseats atleast'one or whiohis in re'g'is-.

a stationary standard, a rocking member pivotally connected at anintermediate point with said standard and provided with a pair of seatslocated upon-opposite sides of said pivotal connection for receivingarticles to be labeled, a horizontally reciprocabl carriage, a'membervertically reoiprocable on said carriage, a pair of co-acting try withsaid; pivot and another in offset rela-;

tion thereto, a horizontally reciprocablecarriage;

a member verticallyv reciprocable' on said =cajr"-; riage, a pair ofco-acting suction heads carried,

by said memberi'or carrying'lab'els and applying the samesimultaneously-to .articlesflnsaid seats, 7 andpressure means forcompleting the-applioa= jl 5: 1 I

.tion-of said labelsby pressure. 1

suction heads for carrying labels and applying lo the samesimultaneously to the articles in said seats, and pressure means forcompleting the application ,of 'said labels ;by pressure.

(molten w. von HbFE.

, f "'12. a labeling machineQthe combination of

